Monday, June 09, 2008

Fuel prices....

has increase once again in Malaysia. According to mum, its now at RM2.78 per liter. Well the increase is every where around the world. Well... except the middle east of course. Why? Because I still think its the only place on earth where oil is DIRT CHEAP! Perhaps cheaper than a bottle of Coke! But hey, what do I know, right? I've never been to the middle east before.

But any ways. After reading some online news, seems like the government will be doing something about it. Doing what? Cutting costs on government functions, reevaluating mega projects, improving the public transportation system, and assisting poor and single mothers.

Why I high lighted cutting cost in RED? Coz it will not do a lot of good for the people in terms of cost cutting. If they really want to cots costs, shouldn't they be considering ministers not travel in "style"? How about cutting out on fancy luncheons/dinner/galas that ministries has the "privilege"? How about NOT "burning" our tax payers money this coming 31th August, Merdeka celebration with fireworks? How about monitoring corruption, cutting out unnecessary government staffs who's doing nothing and getting paid? I seriously don't think a director needs to have 2 extra kaki and tangan (legs and arms) on the left and right when he/she already has the thousand "Buddhas' hands" and their own legs and arms, right? What do I know?

The high light in GREEN: Man, I've heard and read what the government wants to do, but seriously do they need to do it now and what is the purpose any way? And BTW, what happened to all the profits from Petronas? Shouldn't Petronas be giving back to the people in times like these with all the profits that they are making a.k.a. fuel hike? Oil that is found and "drained" in Malaysia belongs to the country and its people. Why can't we Malaysian's enjoy at least some benefits as an oil producing country like our neighbour Brunei? OR is our oil slowly drying up and the national oil company a.k.a Petronas is keeping us in the dark? Why? Its because Malaysia is currently importing more oil and exporting it. But then again what do I know?

On improving public transportation. Not enough bus lanes, how to move during traffic jams? We've got 4 lanes in some areas and 3 in most. I'm pretty sure by allocating 2 lanes for public transport, people would just give up driving their cars since its just going to be jammed up any way. hehehehe.... BTW, its been 2 years since the last time anyone monitors what the government said about building more LRTs, having more buses and trains in the country. And ever since I've been back in 2007, NOTHING has changed!! No work has even started up till today for new routes/rails etc. We don't even know where our new lines/routes are going to be built or where it goes through as there's such silence about any rail projects. At least our neighbour knows where their rails are going to be built for the next 10 or 20 years. Again, what do I know?

And what is this about taxes for importing spare parts for buses/trains? As if we are producing them locally, (which is NOT at the moment!) tell me how does the bus companies up keep our already running buses and keep the cost low for users?

Man, already the electricity is (or has already) going up, food prices (especially RICE!) that is already high will be even higher with this fuel hike. I'm thinking now, how does the average Joe/Muthu/Ah Beng/Ali that earns just enough to cover rent and food for the family is going to survive ah? Haiz.... And being a senior citizen, mum is getting very worried about this increase as we Asians tend to spend more on filling our stomachs with rice.

And then, the government comes out with this rebate thingy. COME ON MAN! You can not be serious!! I think the government needs a new accountant-lar, RM625 annual rebate is really nothing. Can not even buy a kopi-O at your local mamak or a Coke from the machine man! Double haiz.....

Then someone somewhere told us Malaysians, your average Joe here, to change your life style/attitude. Man, how to change when we're already living in a very thrifty lifestyle. Change our attitude towards public transportation? YEAH RIGHT! Look at the state of it, there's just too much demand and not enough supply. Why don't you Mr/Madam/Encik/Puan minister take the bus/LRT/Kommuter/bicycle to work? Has anyone of you notice the safety, accessibility irregularities of our public transport system? I can't blame you being chuffed around in your spanking new Mercedes/BMW/Perdana/SUVs. So tell me, why can't you change yourlife style sir/madam? Once again, what do I know?

2 comments:

~ mrs lam ~ said...

if the person who suggested us to walk to work, he/she got to set example-lah... and not just TALK onli...

Shanny Khoo said...

That is what I've always tell ppl: Do/practice what you preach. Seems like there's lots of ppl out there giving only "lip service".

The other thing I'm pissed off also is that when ppl promised something or to do something, why can't they just do it instead of giving excuses? I see a lot of M'sians or generally Asians like this.... sad but true...